On their part, the Mumbai youth are all set to make the best of the festival of dance, music and lights spread over nine nights.

'I shall be going to the Falguni Pathak nite and to some different local mandals along with my friends,' said Sejal N. Sheth, a public relations executive and a Navratri enthusiast.

Others, who are die-hard Navratri revellers, shall also take part in various competitions that are slated at various mandals. These range from best male and female dancers, best costumes, best new steps, etc for which prizes are given.

'Enthusiasts travel to Gujarat weeks before the festival to buy the costumes and jewellery worth anything from Rs.10,000 to Rs.100,000 for the season,' said Jyoti Sagar, an organizer with the Kamla Vihar Society in Kandivli west.

'That's not all, they also attend special pre-Navratri dance classes to hone up their dancing skills, practice yoga and aerobics, take extra health and diet care, appoint a beautician for make-up to ensure they have an edge over others at the competitions,' Sagar said.

Apart from these commercial and competitive Navratri celebrations, there are others which are purely traditional, said senior mediaperson Dharmesh Bhatt.

'For instance, Musa Paike - a Muslim - is the city's top singer for traditional navratri songs. At most mandals, the musicians, especially those who play the 'dhol' and 'shehnai' and string instruments are Muslims,' according to Bhatt.

Though signs of recession are evident - in the form of subdued publicity, decorations and hoardings, the entry point collections are doing well for the daily tickets (Rs.300 and above) and season tickets (between Rs.1,200 and Rs.3,000) at different venues.